When planning an outdoor design, it’s important to incorporate hardscape elements in with the living features such as grass, trees, shrubs and flowers in order to create a seamless design that not only provides visual interest, but added functionality as well.  Hardscaping refers to anything outdoors that is not living – so primarily anything you would build out of stone, brick, concrete, pavers or wood.

Some of the most common elements to consider are areas where you will spend most of your time enjoying the outside of your home.  Some homeowners prefer to build patios for outdoor entertaining and relaxation, while others prefer the look of decks.  Which one you choose may also depend on the elevation of your home in comparison to the ground below.  The former option is good for homes that sit relatively low to the ground, where you can just step right outside or have to navigate one or two steps.  In contrast, homes that sit high above the ground often do better with decks, since they can be built at any height.

Other aspects you may want to consider when planning your outdoor design include things like retaining walls.  Walls are a useful element if your property is sloped since they can handle issues involving drainage, erosion and runoff.  However, don’t ignore the visual interest that these elements can add.  Although many people have these walls built to deal with grading and sloping issues, they can provide visual appeal as they set apart various parts of your landscape, adding tiers and different levels to the design.

You’ll also want to consider whether you need to incorporate any type of walkway into your exterior plans.  Again these elements not only offer the functionality you need to get from one location to another on your property, but depending on the materials used and the design of the path, they can also provide eye-catching appeal.  Imagine the look of a meandering path of pavers or natural stone transporting you from your patio to your driveway rather than a straight path of poured concrete and you can quickly understand the impact these elements can have on your overall outdoor design.

If you like to cook outdoors or entertain a lot, other increasingly popular hardscape elements that many homeowners are splurging for are outdoor kitchens.  These can be as basic or elaborate as you’d like them to be.  Built in benches, outdoor fireplaces or firepits and more can also be built to add to the beauty and enjoyment of your backyard.

As you can see, many hardscaping elements serve more than just a functional purpose and can also increase the visual appeal and value of your backyard design.  The key is to plan carefully so that each element blends in seamlessly with the surrounding landscape for a cohesive and well thought out design that you and your family will be able to enjoy for many years to come.

For more information about our hardscape design and construction services in NJ and Staten Island, contact Millenium Stoneworks at 732-519-1112 or 347-723-6990.